Debouncing a thermostat switch...

A small cap across the input and a 300 ohm resistor in series with the switch. Primitive,but often it works try a cap in the range of 2 nf to 100 nf.

THANK YOU! Thank you very much. I will give this a try.

Much appreciated...

Dave

What is it controlling?

It's the thermostat for my central heat and A/C. Believe it has something like +9V or +12V going to it, with a low current availablilty.

Dave

You could try to strip and clean the contacts but at this point a new one might be easier and cheaper.

It's done this since day one, and it was not "cheap." Cheaply made maybe. Or poorly designed...

Dave

What you describe is a very bad sign. Even the worst contact bounce should be handled fine by a device like this. It isn't made by Lucas, is it?

I don't know about Lucas, but it says "Ritetemp" on the upper right side of the main body, over the battery compartment. Why is it a bad sign? And why a "very" bad sign? The worst it has ever done was not turn off the heat as soon as it reached its set level. Please tell me what you are thinking. This is my house... I would hate for it to become a blown fuse.

Thanks,

Dave

You said it 'locks up' when the buttons are pushed. This is a bad sign. It's like having a car that needs a 2 minute wait every time you change gears - you know it isn't right.

I doubt it will become a fuse but I suspect it will only get worse over time.

Re Lucas - you should search for Lucas jokes.

The Lucas motto: "Get home before dark." Lucas denies having invented darkness. But they still claim "sudden, unexpected darkness" Lucas--inventor of the first intermittent wiper. Lucas--inventor of the self-dimming headlamp. The three-position Lucas switch--DIM, FLICKER and OFF. The other three switch settings--SMOKE, SMOLDER and IGNITE. Lucas dip-switch positions: LOW and BLOW

Ah, okay. Well, we've had this for four or five years I think, and it hasn't gotten any worse. It just seems to get confused whenever you try to adjust it for higher or lower temp. I figured that was bouncing switches. When I saw someone else discussing debouncing a switch, it occured to me that I might be able to fix it.

Thanks,

Dave

My guess is no. In the US these are quite cheap and I'd replace it with a better model.

Okay, well... Thanks for your input. I may just live with it, like I've been doing for four or five years. :)

Thanks,

Dave